Fibroids

What Are Fibroids?

Affecting as many as 40% of women 35 years and older, signs and symptoms of fibroid tumors can include heavy menstrual bleeding, other abnormal uterine bleeding, pelvic pain, or urinary incontinence. Even if there is no change in menstrual activity, however, fibroids may still affect a woman's quality of life. But what are they, and how do you get treatment for uterine fibroids?

Quite simply, fibroids are non-cancerous (or benign) tumors that are within or on the muscle tissue in the uterus. Fibroids can typically range in size from a golf ball size to the size of a cantaloupe or larger. As part of the reproductive system, fibroids (and their symptoms) are often cyclical in relation to hormone activity. Additionally, because uterine fibroids are hormonally sensitive, their size and growth can be affected by estrogen production; more estrogen encourages fibroids to grow.

Three Types of Fibroid Tumors

Uterine fibroids can grow in different locations in the uterus, and women may have more than one type of fibroid. As such, they are given different names to specify their location:

• Subserosal - These fibroids grow along the "outside" of the uterus and grow outward, away from the uterine cavity. As such, subserosal fibroids don't usually exhibit symptoms like heavy menstrual bleeding, but they may cause pain as they grow and begin pressing against other organs.
  
• Intramural - Located within a wall of the uterus, intramural fibroids are the most common and easy to detect as they exhibit more visible symptoms. In addition to heavy menstrual bleeding, signs and symptoms of fibroids tumors like this can include more frequent urination as well as back and/or pelvic pain.
  
• Submucosal - As the least common of uterine fibroids, submucosal fibroids grow beneath the uterine cavity lining. This type of fibroid will typically show symptoms in the form of abnormal uterine bleeding in terms of menstrual flow and duration.

Finally, another class of fibroid tumors is known as pedunculated. These fibroids grow on a "stalk" and can be located either inside or outside of the uterus.

Fibroid Treatment Options

In the not-too-distant past the only option for treatment of uterine fibroids was a hysterectomy. Today, however, there are hysterectomy alternatives for uterine fibroids. In addition to "watchful waiting" and pharmaceutical therapy options, Uterine Fibroid Embolization (also known as Uterine Artery Embolization) stands out as a minimally-invasive, non-surgical treatment for uterine fibroids that can be performed on an outpatient basis.

As a fibroid tumor treatment, uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is quite simple. An Interventional Radiologist (IR) inserts a small catheter into the femoral artery through a little nick in the groin area. The IR then directs the catheter to the site of the fibroids and introduces Embosphere® Microsphere that permanently block the tiny vessels that deliver blood (and oxygen) to the fibroids. This causes the fibroids to stop growing and start shrinking, all the while keeping the uterus intact.

UFE as Your Treatment for Uterine Fibroids

If you believe UFE might be an ideal treatment for uterine fibroids in your case, ask yourself the following questions:

• Are you exhibiting the signs and symptoms of uterine fibroids (e.g., heavy menstrual bleeding, etc.)?
• Do you no longer wish to have children?
• Are you looking for alternatives to hysterectomy?
• Do you wish to avoid surgical treatment for uterine fibroids?
• Are you a bad candidate for surgery (i.e., hemophiliac, anemic, etc.)?
• Are you currently not pregnant?

Once you have answered these questions, schedule a consultation with your OB/GYN to further discuss UFE as a treatment for uterine fibroids. If you would like to communicate with a specialist, receive an information packet, or locate a physician near you today, please use the convenient options on the right side of this page.

To further research treatment for uterine fibroids, including uterine fibroid embolization, please read more about our fibroid tumor treatments.